Mysterious disease plagues Florida panthers with disorientation, fatalities

As per a report by WUSF media, researchers indicate that the disease is permanent, posing challenges for panthers in hunting and making them more vulnerable to vehicle-related fatalities. The lingering question remains about the impact on their lifespan and quality of life.

This newly discovered disease targets the panthers’ spinal cords, causing damage to the protective sheath surrounding crucial nerves, likened to the removal of insulation from live electrical wires.

Wildlife scientists from various regions in the southeastern United States have assembled to investigate the mysterious disease, aiming to comprehend its origins and develop strategies to halt its progression.

Florida panthers and bobcats are experiencing symptoms such as stumbling, disorientation, getting lost, tremors, and falling over. The most prominent indication of the disease is the evident dysfunction in the hind legs. Efforts are underway to unravel the underlying cause and find solutions to combat the affliction.

“We don’t know what is causing it or how prevalent it is in the population,” said Carol Rizkalla, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Panther Management Program coordinator. “The toxin could be anything.”

Wildlife scientists from various regions in the southeastern United States have assembled to investigate the mysterious disease, aiming to comprehend its origins and develop strategies to halt its progression.

Florida panthers and bobcats are experiencing symptoms such as stumbling, disorientation, getting lost, tremors, and falling over. The most prominent indication of the disease is the evident dysfunction in the hind legs. Efforts are underway to unravel the underlying cause and find solutions to combat the affliction.

A collaborative multi-state task force has been formed to protect Florida panthers and bobcats from the debilitating disease. The task force includes a team of wildlife scientists, including experts in animal diseases from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia, as well as professionals from the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, and various private zoos and wildlife rehabilitation organizations across Florida. 

In addition to viral, nutritional, bacterial, and fungal testing, they’ve looked for toxins including rodenticides, pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals — nothing.

“There have been no reports of the disease presenting in domestic felids or other wildlife. However, there is still concern of a possible spillover,” she said. “FWC is in contact with regional wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, and animal shelters to monitor other species.”